“THE PASTOR’S DESK – FEBUARY 2016”

“THE PASTOR’S DESK – FEBUARY 2016”

“Spare not – Don’t hold back”

The theme for 2016 for the Cornerstone Family Church which the Lord laid upon the heart of our Senior Pastor Lindokuhle Mtshali, is based upon Isaiah.54:1-5, verses 2-3, is “Spare not” or putting it into a simple term “Don’t hold back”. This is a challenge to get motivated for the Kingdom of God, both to the individual believer and to the whole church. It is no longer acceptable to “talk the walk” rather it requires everyone to “walk the talk”, and trust the Lord for great things to happen in and through the church, and in our own personal lives.

Contextually when the Lord gave these words to Isaiah the Prophet, they speak of a future expansion, of numerical growth and working together as a team of believers totally committed to the Lords will and purpose. To “Break outthe box” of complacency believers can so easily settle into. Never be satisfied with the “status quo”, and I quote an old saying:- “Procrastination is the thief of time” This is a major tactic of the devil, to get Christians wasting time arguing about irrelevant things, majoring upon minor things that have little or no bearing whatsoever upon our calling. The devil is a master of getting Christians side-tracked from the main task which is “To preach Christ and Him Crucified for the forgiveness of sins and sinners”!

The words of the Apostle Paul are amazingly powerful, from a man who once hated Jesus and the church striving to completely destroy every trace of its existence. Until one dramatic day on the road to Damascus the living Christ met with him, from this point of time his life is totally changed, Acts.9:1-18. He later writes in, 1.Timothy.1:15, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, OF WHICH I AM CHIEF” Chief = Gk Proto = The foremost! Worst of all!

Romans.1:14-17.

v.14. “I AM A DEBTOR both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise”

v.15. “So, as much as in me, I AM READY to preach the gospel to you who are at Rome also”.”

v.16. “FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, for it is the POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, for the JEW FIRST and also for the GREEK”

v.17. ‘’FOR IN IT (THE GOSPEL)THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS REVEALED; AS IT IS WRITTEN, THE JUST (JUSTIFIED) SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” Habbakuk.2:4

These four statement also sum up our personal responsibility towards Jesus Christ who not only has saved us from sin, He has also given every Christian a task and purpose to witness of God’s grace towards us through His soon Jesus at Calvary.

“I AM NOT ASHAMED” – Embarrassed or fearful what others may think or say of me!

“I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEW LIFE AND NOW LIVE TO SHARE THE TRUTH”

Paul is enabled to write these word concerning what he regarded as his own responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, because he understood the great and terrible price Jesus had paid to redeem him from a lost eternity.

Romans.8:31-32. “What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’’

Philippians.2:5-11, v.5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”

God Himself held nothing back, when he sent forth His son to bring salvation to the world. John3:16. Jesus likewise held nothing back to obtain eternal salvation to all who would believe in Him. He deliberately humbled Himself to the death of the Cross, despised or thought nothing of the pain or humiliation that he would have to endure. His purpose was to fulfill the Father’s will. HE WILLING GAVE HIS ALL – SPARING NOT – HOLDING NOTHING BACK UNTIL THE WORK OF GRACE WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

We have been challenged to rise up and to give ourselves to every opportunity that presents itself to speak and share the Good News with whosoever our path crosses. Ephesians.2:1-10,v.10. ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”